In the Footsteps of Cyrus: President Biden’s Support of the Jewish People
In the Genesis narrative, a thought-provoking verse emerges:
“And God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.”” (Genesis 1:26)
Within the framework of normative Jewish theology, the question arises: to whom is God speaking?
Rashi, the Medieval Torah commentator, suggests that this verse imparts the lesson of humility, even at the risk of emboldening heretics.
It’s a potent notion — God, in a moment of supreme glory, relinquishing some control to instill the crucial lesson of consensus and humility in decision-making.
If ever there were a time for humility among Jewish people, it’s in response to the benevolence of President Joe Biden.
Not since Cyrus The Great granted the Jewish people the right to return/rebuild Jerusalem in the 500s BCE has a world leader been as kind and supportive.
I’d humbly suggest that had the events of October 7th unfolded 2,500 years ago, President Biden’s unwavering support would be canonized in Tanach alongside the deeds of Cyrus the Great.
Many seem to be recognizing this — the NY Jewish community sent 17,000 letters of gratitude, and even Amb. David Friedman, a staunch critic, publicly thanked the President on Twitter.
But, what’s our next move? How do we sustain this momentum?
Currently, I can’t think of a more impactful way to ensure Israel’s future safety than to keep President Biden in office.
Not only has he made every financial commitment possible, but his rhetoric and actions are unprecedented — he’s the first US President to visit Israel in a time of war.
A challenge for Jewish leaders in corporations is conveying that an attack on Israel is an attack on the Jewish people. President Biden has shown a deep understanding of this. One line from his speech in Israel resonated:
“October 7th, a sacred Jewish holiday, became the deadliest day for the Jewish people since the Holocaust. It has brought to the surface painful memories and scars left by a millennia of antisemitism and the genocide of the Jewish people.
The world watched then, it knew, and the world did nothing. We will not stand by and do nothing again. Not today, not tomorrow, not ever.”
We’ve always known this, but to hear an ally express it so clearly is remarkable.
I ask those who’ve supported the President to continue doing so. For those critical, take a lesson from Genesis 1:26 — make important decisions with humility.
